Page 12 of No Strings Attached
Jamie is even more nervous than I am, already reaching for a tray of those cute little hors d'oeuvres to keep his hands occupied. It makes me smile the way he immediately stuffs two of them in his mouth, munching away like it’s just the two of us. I place a firm hand along his back as we both sigh at the contact before pushing forward. Having to keep up this façade of being strong, capable Alphas is weighing on us both because we just want tobe.
A young actor, all bright eyes and enthusiasm, corners me almost immediately, his voice bubbling over. “Olivia, I’d love to be considered for your new film,” he says, barely pausing for breath. “I’ve got this great range, and I think I’d be perfect for—”
I nod, smiling, but my mind’s already searching for an exit. He’s sweet, but I’ve got a dozen conversations like this lined up tonight. I’m about to pivot, maybe mention a follow-up call, when Tristan appears, his tobacco scent sharp as he cuts through the crowd. His eyes lock onto mine, and I brace myself for the confrontation we always have. He throws a few jabs, tries to make me act out, and then walks away like he won something.
“Olivia,” he drawls, stretching my name out. I hate my name on his tongue and hate it even more that we once considered this Alpha to have in our bed. He hasn’t let us forget it, or rather, he blames Jamie for me saying no. “Let’s talk products. I’ve got some star content creators ready for collaborations with Dane.”
I snort and shake my head. We’ll never partner with him, however, that might change knowing that Elias is our Omega. At the very least, I will free Elias from whatever bullshit contract he’s stuck with. I swallow, forcing myself to keep from asking about Elias’ wounds. “I don’t need anyone at the moment, Tristan. Thank you but no thank you.”
Tristan starts rattling off names and numbers anyway but I’m only half listening. I do a cursory gaze around the room, locking on a few people I need to touch base with before staring at Jamie. He lets out a little hum as he grabs a cucumber sandwich from a passing tray, completely tuned out. His whole body wiggles as he pops another one into his mouth, his hazel eyes bright with simple joy. I love that about him, the way he finds delight in the smallest things, even in a room full of sharks.
Tristan’s gaze shifts to Jamie as his grin twists into a snarl. “Your husband is an absolute disgrace of an Alpha,” he growls out. “You could do so much better if you ran Dane all by yourself,Olivia. Hell, you need arealAlpha.” He steps closer but I just glare at him before he makes a mistake he’ll regret.
We might be softer Alphas but that doesn’t mean we’re okay being disrespected. I run my hand up and down Jamie’s back as he freezes, his citrusy scent hardening slightly. Fucking hell, I’m going to murder Tristan. This isn’t the first time someone’s thrown that at us—our dynamic doesn’t fit their neat little boxes, and they love to remind us.
It never gets easier to hear, especially not for Jamie, who’s already shrinking beneath Tristan’s stare. I step forward, my hand still on Jamie’s back, making sure to push every ounce of anger into my voice. “First off, you won’t talk to my husband that way. For someone looking for our money, you have a weird way of going about it. Second, my husband is the nicest, most fulfilling man on the entire goddamn planet.”
Tristan leans a bit closer, his entire face twisted up in a deviant expression. “I don’t know howfulfillinghe is, considering you guys seem to have someone different in your bed every night. Does Jamie even know how to get you off? You really should have taken up my offer when I gave it.”
A low growl rumbles through my chest as I curl my fingers into the back of Jamie’s jacket. “You would have never measured up to my husband, you fucker,” I push out through gritted teeth. “And if we weren’t at a gala, I would let you know just how much I despise you.” I have a mind to drag him outside and throw a few punches at that smug face but there’s no doubt in my mind that it would blow up over social media in an instant and I would be the aggressor.
Jamie isn’t as torn up about the situation as he throws a quick jab to Tristan’s stomach. I have to swallow down my smile as he glares up at the man. “You’re fucking despicable. Regardless of how well I fulfill my wife, the fact that she’s declined your inviteseveral timesshould say something. You keep saying I’m notAlpha enough but she won’t even touch you with a ten foot pole. Look in the fucking mirror, Tristan. Oh, and we’restillnot going to work with you.”
Tristan scoffs as he places his hands over his heart in mock offense. “Not that Ineedit. Just seeing if Olivia had smartened up. You see, Mr. Hart decided to work with us this morning. It’s quite lucrative.”
I almost say something but Jamie pulls me farther into the crowd, away from an inevitable fight. There were already people starting to look over. Jamie doesn’t stop until we’re almost at the other end, tucked away next to another table of little sandwiches and mushrooms. I swallow carefully before turning to face my husband, my heart aching when I catch the tears in his hazel eyes.
“Don’t,” he pleads, his voice rough but soft, before I can speak. “I’m okay. He always says shit like that to me.” He clutches an almost empty plate to his chest, his knuckles whitening with how tightly he’s gripping it.
“Babe, that doesn’t make it okay.” The onlyrealreason I’ve ever held back from fighting Tristan is because Jamie asked. He doesn’t want my image tarnished and he refuses to put me in the spotlight for anything other than perfection. And as much as I want to defend my Alpha and my husband, I won’t refuse his wishes. I step closer, casing him against the wall, a sigh of relief coming from him. “Also,” I gently pinch his chin to angle it upward, our gaze meeting as I brush my lips against his. “YouareAlpha enough for me. You’re the only Alpha for me.”
Jamie lets out a soft whimper as he chases my lips. “I know. I was just saying those things. I promise. I know it’s not whatever society says I should be, but really, I’m okay.”
“You’re more than okay,” I murmur, my words just for him. He’s my rock, my joy, the man who makes cinnamon twists and dances with me in our living room. No one gets to make himfeel less. “And I mean it. We don’t need an Alpha. I think we’ve been looking in the wrong place this entire time.” His cheeks pink a little, no doubt bringing up the memory from earlier this afternoon.
Jamie nods as he leans back against the wall and sets his plate on the table beside us, his hands falling to his stomach. “I should probably stop eating,” he says, even as he eyes a tray of mini éclairs. “My clothes are getting a little tight.”
I grin, my hands sliding to his waist, feeling the soft curve there under his suit. “I quite like that belly of yours though,” I say, my voice teasing but honest, my fingers pressing in gently. His cheeks flush a little darker, the deep pink color spreading under his beard, and I lean closer, my lips brushing his ear. “I kind of want to see what happens when Elias gets you completely naked, how he’ll worship every curve of your body and then consume you with that delicious scent of his. I can still smell him, even though he’s not here with us.”
Jamie’s blush deepens, and he then groans, as he snatches an éclair and stuffs it into his mouth to hide it. “Please stop talking like that,” he mumbles, his voice muffled by the delicacy. “We have to at least make it an hour before we can leave and I can’t walk around here with a boner.”
My eyes widen a little bit, wondering how far I can push this moment but I absolutely know it won’t take much to have Jamie melting in my hands. Which is why I step back and let him furiously chew his dessert while ogling my gorgeous husband. I only turn away when someone steals my attention, starting up one of many conversations we’ll have tonight.
“Olivia! Great to see you!” Hunter grins as he throws out his hand for me to shake, jumping right into a pitch about his latest project, some thriller he’s dying to bring companies in on. I nod, my responses short, polite, just enough to keep the conversation going while my mind starts to drift to a certain Omega.
Elias
I glare at myself in the mirror, my fingers fumbling with the tie around my neck. The black suit feels like a straitjacket, a far cry from the loose flannel I’m used to. Even before the whole adventure video thing, I was always the ‘freer’ brother. Disappearing on walks and hikes with my Beta father, Joel, sometimes longer than we’d planned. The rest of my fathers were never amused but Leo always understood that my heart couldn’t be contained within four walls.
I felt most comfortableout there, where the birds sung and the darkness felt like a warm hug rather than a nightmare.
A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I slick back my hair one more time, trying to tame the orangey-red mess. It’s not perfect but it’ll do, my green eyes dull with exhaustion. One day I’ll grab that flare I used to have but in the current climate with this commercial, I’m not sure when that will be.
My phone buzzes on the counter.
Sending you a car. It better not be empty when it shows up at the gala.
I grumble under my breath at the leash he’s got me on, even after I punched him, even after I walked out. After today, though, I’m thinking of ways to leave. If it means I have to sell my house and live in some rundown apartment in the city in order to pay Tristan back, I will. I can’t do this shit anymore.
